The state-owned telecommunications company BSNL is set to launch its 4G service in a phased approach, starting in December and gradually expanding nationwide by June of the following year. P K Purwar, the Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL, revealed these plans during an interview with PTI at the India Mobile Congress. He emphasized that BSNL is well-prepared for the upcoming 4G service launch in Punjab this December, having already completed network enhancements for 200 sites. Currently, they are actively installing infrastructure at 3,000 sites within Punjab. As the deployment progresses, the network expansion will reach 6,000, 9,000, 12,000, and ultimately 15,000 sites each month.
Purwar outlined their target to finalize the 4G rollout by June 2024, with plans to transition to 5G services post-June 2024. Notably, BSNL has awarded substantial orders, valued at around Rs 19,000 crore, to IT company TCS and government-owned ITI for the deployment of an upgradable 4G network with future 5G capabilities. With ample spectrum resources at their disposal, BSNL is poised to introduce 5G services once the 4G rollout is successfully accomplished.
